Marine Character Area
{{Short description|Marine characterisation area of Wales}}
A Marine Character Area (MCA) is a marine geographic area around the Welsh coastline, designated by Natural Resources Wales for the purposes of characterising the key natural, cultural and perceptual influences on the defined area.{{cite web|title=Marine Character Area|website=Natural Resources Wales|url=https://naturalresources.wales/evidence-and-data/maps/marine-character-areas/?lang=en|accessdate=14 January 2021}}
MCAs are part of the Welsh Government's response to the European Landscape Convention and the 2011 UK Marine Policy Statement (MPS), itself a response to the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009. Welsh MCAs are described in a series of documents originated in 2014.
List of Marine Character Areas
- MCA 1 Dee Estuary (Wales) ([https://cdn.cyfoethnaturiol.cymru/media/674479/mca-01-dee-estuary-final.pdf pdf])
- MCA 2 Colwyn Bay and Rhyl flats ([https://cdn.cyfoethnaturiol.cymru/media/674480/mca-02-colwyn-bay-and-rhyl-flats-final.pdf pdf])
- MCA 3 Red Wharf and Conwy Bays ([https://cdn.cyfoethnaturiol.cymru/media/674481/mca-03-red-wharf-and-conwy-bays_final.pdf pdf])
- MCA 4 North Wales Open Waters ([https://cdn.cyfoethnaturiol.cymru/media/674482/mca-04-north-wales-open-waters_final.pdf pdf])
- MCA 5 North-West Anglesey Open Waters ([https://cdn.cyfoethnaturiol.cymru/media/674483/mca-05-north-west-anglesey-open-waters_final.pdf pdf])
- MCA 6 North Anglesey Coastal Waters ([https://cdn.cyfoethnaturiol.cymru/media/674484/mca-06-north-anglesey-coastal-waters_final.pdf pdf])
- MCA 7 Holyhead Bay and the Skerries ([https://cdn.cyfoethnaturiol.cymru/media/674485/mca-07-holyhead-bay-and-the-skerries_final.pdf pdf])
- MCA 8 West Anglesey Open Waters ([https://cdn.cyfoethnaturiol.cymru/media/674486/mca-08-west-anglesey-open-waters_final.pdf pdf])
- MCA 9 Holy Island West and Penrhos Bay ([https://cdn.cyfoethnaturiol.cymru/media/674487/mca-09-holy-island-west-and-penrhos-bay_final.pdf pdf])
- MCA 10 Menai Strait ([https://cdn.cyfoethnaturiol.cymru/media/674488/mca-10-menai-strait_final.pdf pdf])
- MCA 11 Caernarfon Bay ([https://cdn.cyfoethnaturiol.cymru/media/674489/mca-11-caernarfon-bay_final.pdf pdf])
- MCA 12 Llyn and South West Anglesey Open Waters ([https://cdn.cyfoethnaturiol.cymru/media/674490/mca-12-llyn-and-south-west-anglesey-open-waters_final.pdf pdf])
- MCA 13 Llyn and Bardsey Island ([https://cdn.cyfoethnaturiol.cymru/media/674491/mca-13-llyn-and-bardsey-island_final.pdf pdf])
- MCA 14 Tremadog Bay and Dwyryd Estuary ([https://cdn.cyfoethnaturiol.cymru/media/674492/mca-14-tremadog-bay-and-dwyryd-estuary_final.pdf pdf])
- MCA 15 Cardigan Bay North and Estuaries ([https://cdn.cyfoethnaturiol.cymru/media/674493/mca-15-cardigan-bay-north-and-estuaries_final.pdf pdf])
- MCA 16 Cardigan Bay (South) ([https://cdn.cyfoethnaturiol.cymru/media/674494/mca-16-cardigan-bay_south_final.pdf pdf])
- MCA 17 Outer Cardigan Bay ([https://cdn.cyfoethnaturiol.cymru/media/674495/mca-17-outer-cardigan-bay_final.pdf pdf])
- MCA 18 West Pembrokeshire Coastal Waters and Islands ([https://cdn.cyfoethnaturiol.cymru/media/674496/mca-18-west-pembrokeshire-coastal-waters-and-islands_final.pdf pdf])
- MCA 19 West Pembrokeshire Islands Bars and Inshore Waters ([https://cdn.cyfoethnaturiol.cymru/media/674497/mca-19-west-pembrokeshire-islands-bars-and-inshore-waters_final.pdf pdf])
- MCA 20 Irish Sea Offshore ([https://cdn.cyfoethnaturiol.cymru/media/674498/mca-20-irish-sea-offshore_final.pdf pdf])
- MCA 21 Milford Haven ([https://cdn.cyfoethnaturiol.cymru/media/674499/mca-21-milford-haven_final.pdf pdf])
- MCA 22 South Pembrokeshire Coastal and Inshore Waters ([https://cdn.cyfoethnaturiol.cymru/media/674500/mca-22-south-pembrokeshire-coastal-and-inshore-waters_final.pdf pdf])
- MCA 23 South Pembrokeshire Open Waters ([https://cdn.cyfoethnaturiol.cymru/media/674501/mca-23-south-pembrokeshire-open-waters-final.pdf pdf])
- MCA 24 Carmarthen Bay and Estuaries ([https://cdn.cyfoethnaturiol.cymru/media/674502/mca-24-carmarthen-bay-and-estuaries_final.pdf pdf])
- MCA 25 Gower and Helwick Coastal Waters ([https://cdn.cyfoethnaturiol.cymru/media/674503/mca-25-gower-and-helwick-coastal-waters_final.pdf pdf])
- MCA 26 Swansea Bay and Porthcawl ([https://cdn.cyfoethnaturiol.cymru/media/674504/mca-26-swansea-bay-and-porthcawl_final.pdf pdf])
- MCA 27 Glamorgan Coastal Waters and Nash Sand ([https://cdn.cyfoethnaturiol.cymru/media/674505/mca-27-glamorgan-coastal-waters-and-nash-sand_final.pdf pdf])
- MCA 28 Bristol Channel (Wales) ([https://cdn.cyfoethnaturiol.cymru/media/674506/mca-28-bristol-channel-wales-_-final.pdf pdf])
- MCA 29 Severn Estuary (Wales) ([https://cdn.cyfoethnaturiol.cymru/media/674507/mca-29-severn-estuary-wales-final.pdf pdf])
==References==
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://naturalresources.wales/evidence-and-data/maps/marine-character-areas/?lang=en Marine Character Area] from Natural Resources Wales
- [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-marine-policy-statement UK Marine Policy Statement]